An important way that music of our time is assured a place in the repertory is through commissions and commission consortiums. Recently, because of individual financial constraints, commission consortiums have played a vital role in hiring established and historically important composers to write new music. One of the most important current consortium organizations is World-Wide Concurrent Premieres and Commission Fund, Inc.

World-Wide Concurrent Premieres and Commission Fund, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that chooses composers, and presents world-premieres of the same work by multiple performers in different locations, world-wide. WWCPCF, as an organization, empowers solo performers, chamber musicians and large ensembles, and all on every level from community, college or professional levels, with the ability to commission works without massive fund-raising efforts by the individual or the organization. With a relatively small contribution (usually $100–$350), a certain number of performers or organizations (anywhere from 5–150) premiere the work of a given composer on the same day, world-wide.

Begun in 1992, WWCPCF has commissioned composers in all stages of their career from established to emerging. Commissioned composers include John Harbison, Chris Theofanidis, Larry Bell, Frank Ticheli, Yehudi Wyner, Michael Horvit, Gunther Schuller, Jakov Jakoulov, Michael Colgrass, Shih-Hui Chen, John McDonald, Howard Frazin, Elliott Schwartz and Halim El-Dabh. These commissioned composers have produced new music for a variety of musical ensembles which include solo saxophone with orchestra, wind ensemble, cello and piano, saxophone and choir with organ, piano ensemble, and horn and violin with piano to name a few.

The WWCPCF commissioned pieces have been performed by musicians at all levels from professional ensembles such as the Juilliard String Quartet, Omaha Symphony, New Music New Haven, Mallarme Chamber Players and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players to student ensembles such as the Yale University Concert Band, Cypress Falls High School Band and the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra to community ensembles such as the Waco Community Band, Community School of the Arts (North Carolina) and the Music Center of the Northwest (Seattle).

Through the efforts of WWCPCF music of our time has been heard around the world in a way that is entirely unprecedented. WWCPCF commissioned works do not receive just one premiere in one location, but receive up to one-hundred premieres within the first year in different locations world-wide. This has proved to be a successful situation for both composers and performers. A composer’s piece is heard in numerous locations around the world within the first year of completion and the performers are able to take part in a world-premiere that before had just been exclusive to one performer or performing group.

From the beginning WWCPCF has been clear on its goal of being a grass-roots commissioning organization that offers the utmost benefit to all participants. An organization that empowers the individual (or group) with the ability to commission works without the large financial responsibility. WWCPCF wants to make new music available to both the performers and the public. The organization pursues this essence with every WWCPCF commission and continues its passion for allowing all musicians to participate in world premieres.